Written Answers to Questions

Friday 24 June 1994

NATIONAL HERITAGE

Audiovisual Eureka

Dr. Liam Fox : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage
what plans his Department has for the United Kingdom's forthcoming
presidency of Audiovisual Eureka.

Mr. Brooke : The United Kingdom presidency of Audiovisual Eureka
will run from 1 July 1994 to 30 June 1995.

Our objectives for the presidency will be to enhance and give priority to
those aspects of Audiovisual Eureka which complement other European
initiatives aimed at strength-ening the European audiovisual industry. We
shall place particular emphasis on those which foster practical co-
operation between western European countries and the countries of central
and eastern Europe. We shall also aim to promote the use of new
technologies for the production of films and programmes ; and we shall seek
to promote audiovisual technology transfer between east and west.

A central part of the United Kingdom presidency work programme will be to
oversee an independent evaluation of Audiovisual Eureka as part of a
thorough review of its effectiveness, and to ensure that any
recommendations arising from the review are implemented.

I shall be inviting Ministers of the 32 participating countries, as well as
the European Commission and Council of Europe, to attend a meeting in
London on 16 June 1995 to mark the culmination of our presidency.

Football Stadiums

Mr. Coe : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he
has reached his final decision on applications received from Premier League
and first division football clubs for an extension to the Government's 1
August all-seater deadline.

Mr. Brooke : I have. On 26 May, in answer to a written parliamentary
question from my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre Forest (Mr. Coombs),
columns 227-29 , I announced that I had considered applications made by 11
clubs, and having taken into account the recommendations made by the
Football Licensing Authority, formed a preliminary view. I also set out the
criteria against which each application had been assessed.

"Clubs seeking an extension in order to relocate to a new ground are
expected to produce clear evidence that such an extension would be for a
strictly limited period and that the club could realistically complete its
relocation within a reasonable and definite time scale.

Clubs applying for an extension in order to redevelop their existing
grounds are expected to show why their circumstances are wholly
exceptional, why the reasons for the delay could not reasonably have been
foreseen and why they could not be attributed to the actions or inaction of
the club."

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Clubs were given until 16 June to make
further representations to me in support of their case, before I announced
my final decision. On the basis of the information then before me, I
indicated that I was minded to agree that the following clubs, all of which
are actively engaged in relocation to new stadia, have a valid case for an
extension of the 1 August deadline :

Derby County

Grimsby Town

Middlesbrough

Portsmouth

Sunderland

I have today written to the chairmen of each of these clubs to confirm that
my final decision is to grant limited extensions in each case.

I have warned, however, that although I have granted an extension, my
general policy remains, and I have in mind that the extensions will be for
one year only. I have also explained that any decision to allow the
retention of standing accommodation for a limited period will not affect
safety requirements at the ground. Clubs will still be required to observe
the terms and conditions of the local authority safety certificate issued
under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975, and any requirement placed on
the club as a result of the FLA exercising its powers under section 13 of
the Football Spectators Act 1989. The responsibility of each club to ensure
that the ground meets the necessary safety requirements remains unchanged,
irrespective of whether or not an extension is granted.

On 26 May, I also wrote to the chairmen of the following clubs indicating
that, although I appreciated the very real difficulties they faced, I did
not consider that the case they had presented was sufficiently strong to
warrant an extension of the deadline beyond 1 August 1994 :

Barnsley

Chelsea

Manchester City

Newcastle United

Oldham Athletic

Swindon Town

I said that in reaching my final decision I would consider each case on its
individual merits in the light of the above criteria, having regard to all
material facts and to the need to be consistent where circumstances are
similar and fair to all clubs in the Premier League and Football League
first division. I said that I would also take into account any other
relevant points which the clubs wish to make in response to my letters.

Representations were received from five of these clubs before the 16 June
deadline. I have given careful consideration to the points raised, and have
also reviewed the original applications which each club made to the
Football Licensing Authority.

I have decided that only one of these clubs, Newcastle United, has
presented a sufficiently exceptional case to warrant an extension to the
deadline, and that I would not be justified in granting extensions to
Barnsley, Chelsea, Manchester City, Oldham Athletic or Swindon Town. I have
therefore written to the chairmen of each of these clubs to inform them of
my final decision.

I have today laid an Order under section 11 of the Football Spectators Act
1989 directing the Football Licensing Authority to include in its licences
the following conditions :

Only seated accommodation shall be provided for spectators at a designated
football match ; and

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Spectators shall only be admitted to watch a
designated football match from seated accommodation.

The order will come into force on 15 July, and will apply to all clubs in
the Premier League and first division of the Football League, save those
which have been granted extensions to the 1 August deadline. The following
clubs promoted into the--now--first division since 1991 will also be
omitted from the order :

Bolton Wanderers--promoted in 1993

Burnley--promoted in 1994

Port Vale--promoted in 1994

Reading--promoted in 1994

Stoke City--promoted in 1993

West Bromwich Albion--promoted in 1993

These clubs will have three years from the date of their promotion to
ensure that their grounds are all-seated.

I am pleased to report that the majority of clubs in the top two divisions
will meet or are planning to meet the Government's deadline. I congratulate
those clubs on the great strides they have made in improving the safety and
comfort of spectators at their grounds. I will follow closely the progress
made by clubs to which I have granted an extension, and I look forward to
being able to report that these clubs also have successfully achieved all-
seater stadiums.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

Romanian Children

Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and
Commonwealth Affairs what projects to improve the care and education of
Romania's children are being supported through the Poland and Hungary
assistance for economic restructuring--PHARE--programme of the European
Union ; and how British organisations are contributing.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd : A wide range of projects to improve the care and
education of children in Romania are being supported under the PHARE
programme. They include : in health care, particularly maternal and infant
health services ; the rehabilitation of orphanages and the training of
personnel ; the establishment--in concert with the Romanian Government--of
a national policy for the protection of children ; and the development of
strategies to prevent the institutionalisation of vulnerable groups of
children.

European Commission data on contracts awarded under PHARE are not broken
down by recipient country. Between 1990 and 1993, 125 contracts were
awarded to British organisations working in the areas of non governmental
organisations, social adjustment, humanitarian aid, science and
techonology, health and public administration.

Ethiopia

Mr. Worthington : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and
Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received about deaths
occurring in Omo valley district in southern Ethiopia because of transport
difficulties in reaching famine victims ; and what the Government and the
European Union are doing to overcome these difficulties.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We are in touch with the Ethiopian Relief and
Rehabilitation Commission--RRC--about the situation. There are no official
figures for deaths from

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drought and famine. The terrain in much of
the region is mountainous with poor or non-existent roads. Road and air
access is difficult ; ox carts are often the only means of transporting
supplies.

The RRC is planning to carry out a helicopter survey of the remoter areas
of the region to assess accurately needs and access routes. We are prepared
to help with the survey and with implementing its recommendations.

Since January, we have committed 45,000 tonnes of bilateral food aid to
Ethiopia. The EU has committed 264,000 tonnes. We have also provided about
£191,000 for seeds and tools and therapeutic feeding centres
throughout the Omo region.

Mr. Parry : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and
Commonwealth Affairs what overseas aid Her Majesty's Government are
currently providing to Pakistan ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd [holding answer 23 June 1994] : Gross British
bilateral aid to Pakistan for 1992-93--the latest year for which figures
are available--was £34.483 million. This consisted of £18.619
million under the ODA's bilateral country programme, £12.676 million
in Commonwealth Development Corporation investments and £3.188 million
in other aid, including debt relief and drug related assistance.

Recent initiatives include projects in primary education and health, family
planning and participatory urban and rural development. Other main sectors
covered are land development and irrigation, energy and water and
sanitation.

Brazil (Mahogany)

Mr. Dafis : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and
Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he makes of the percentage of mahogany
exported from Brazil to the United Kingdom which has been obtained
illegally in Brazil.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd : We have no reliable means of assessing whether or
not timber entering the United Kingdom has come from an illegal source in
its country of origin. The legality of timber extraction is a matter for
the authorities in the country in which it takes place.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Debts (Non-payment)

Ms Corston : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department
if he will list the 20 Prison Service establishments to which the largest
number of those found guilty of offences in respect of non-payment of debt
were committed in the latest period of 12 months for which there is
information, specifying in addition how many of these offenders were
sentenced for non-payment of (a) television licences and (b) community
charge.

Mr. Maclean : The available information is given in the tables
separately for the non-criminal offences of non-payment of debt and also
for non-payment of fine for using a television without a licence.

Illegal Immigrants

Mr. Spellar : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department
what proposals his Department has to make it an offence to employ an
illegal immigrant.

Mr. Charles Wardle : At present, although it is an offence knowingly
to harbour an illegal entrant or an overstayer, there is no general
requirement on employers to satisfy themselves as to the immigration status
of their employees. The immigration service already gives priority to
detecting those working here illegally and taking

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subsequent action to curtail their stay or
remove them from the United Kingdom. The Government keep the law in this
area under review and expect employers to behave responsibly.

Racial Incidents

Ms Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department
how many racial incidents were recorded by each police force in England and
Wales in 1993.

Mr. Peter Lloyd : This information is now collected on a financial
year basis. The figures for 1993-94 are given : these have been collected
by the same means as figures published for earlier periods, and they are
comparable. I will be considering further the arrangements which are in
place for collecting and publishing such figures in future in the light of
the recent report by the Home Affairs Select Committee on racial attacks
and harassment--HC 71-1.

Channel Islands

Mr. John Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home
Department what are the circumstances of the departure from office of the
Deputy Bailiff and Lieutenant Bailiff of the island of Jersey.

Mr. Peter Lloyd : Appointment as Deputy Bailiff of Jersey is by the
Crown, on advice from the Home Secretary in his capacity as the Privy
Councillor with special responsibility for Jersey. A Deputy Bailiff may
depart from office on the expiry of the period of appointment, or on
appointment to other office, or by resignation, or by removal by the Crown
acting on advice.

The Bailiff of Jersey of the day may appoint for a purpose ad hoc, or
permanently, one or more lieutenant bailiffs. Permanent appointees may
resign from office, or be removed from it by the bailiff ; otherwise, their
appointments end with the departure from office of the Bailiff who
appointed them.

Prison Visits

Mr. Cox : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how
many people were allowed to take part in an assisted prison visits scheme
during 1993 ; and what was the total amount of funding paid under this
scheme for such visits.

Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated
to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to
arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 24 June 1994 : The Home
Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the number of
people taking part in the assisted prison visit scheme during 1993 and the
total amount of funding paid out under it.

The information you request is not available for the calendar year or in
the form requested. For the financial year 1993-94 the number of successful
applications was 74,280 and the total funds disbursed were £2,236,816.

Firearms

Mr. George Howarth : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home
Department how many people were (a) killed and (b) injured in incidents
involving firearms in each year since 1983.

Mr. Maclean : The information requested is published annually in
"Criminal Statistics, England and Wales", copies of which can be found in
the Library--latest edition, 1992, Cm 2410, table 3.8. Figures for 1993 are
not yet available.

Mrs. Karamat Bi

Mr. Madden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department
when arrangements are to be made to issue Mrs. Karamat Bi--Ref. :
TH/2964/93--through the British high commission in Islamabad with a visa to
visit the United Kingdom following her appeal against refusal to grant
being upheld in Leeds on 15 December 1993 ; and if he will make a
statement.

Mr. Charles Wardle : A copy of the adjudicator's determination was
sent to the entry clearance officer in

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Islamabad on 6 January. Inquiries are being
made into the present position, and the hon. Member will be informed as
soon as possible.

Remand

Ms Ruddock : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department
(1) how many males remanded in custody in 1993 spent (a) up to one week,
(b) one to two weeks, (c) two to four weeks, (d) four to eight weeks, (e)
eight weeks to three months, (f) three to six months, (g) six months to 12
months and (h) over 12 months in prison before their court case was
concluded ;

(2) how many females remanded in custody in 1993 spent (a) up to one week,
(b) one to two weeks, (c) two to four weeks, (d) four to eight weeks, (e)
eight weeks to three months, (f) three to six months, (g) six to 12 months
and (h) over 12 months in prison before their court case was concluded.

Mr. Peter Lloyd : Responsibility for this matter has been delegated
to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to
arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from A. J. Butler to Ms Joan Ruddock, dated 24 June 1994 :

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General
from the office, to reply to your recent Questions asking how many males
and females remanded in custody in 1993 spent (a) up to one week, (b) one
to two weeks, (c) two to four weeks, (d) four to eight weeks, (e) eight
weeks to three months, (f) three to six months, (g) six months to 12 months
and (h) over 12 months in prison before their court case was concluded.

The available information is given in the attached table.

Remand prisoners in Prison Service establishments on 30 June 1993
By length of time since first reception<1>
England and Wales
Number of persons<2>
Length of time since |Males |Females
first remand
into a Prison
Service
establishment
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All lengths |10,250 |400
Up to and including 1 week |1,000 |50
More than 1 week up to and including
2 weeks |800 |50
More than 2 weeks up to and including
4 weeks |1,300 |50
More than 4 weeks up to and including
8 weeks |1,750 |70
More than 8 weeks up to and including
3 months |1,500 |70
More than 3 months up to and including
6 months |2,300 |80
More than 6 months up to and including
12 months |1,300 |40
Over 12 months |400 |10
<1>Time since first reception on remand into a Prison Service establishment. This includes any
intervening time spent on bail, but excluding time spent in police cells beforehand.
<2>Rounded estimates which therefore may not add to the totals.

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TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Regional Assistance

Mr. Cox : To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list
the regions of the United Kingdom that have received European regional
development funding in each of the last three years ; and what was the
amount of the funding to each region.

Mr. Sainsbury : The last programme period for the European regional
development fund ran for five years,

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from 1989 to 1993. The table gives a
breakdown of the ERDF funding provided by objective and by region during
that time.

Objective 1 is for development and structural adjustment of the regions
whose development is lagging behind. Objective 2 is for converting regions
or parts of regions seriously affected by industrial decline. Objective
5(b) is for development of rural areas. These objectives are specifically
regional in nature ; they involve measures restricted to certain eligible
regions or parts of regions. Smaller sums shown in the table as
"miscellaneous", were made available outside the objective 1, 2 and 5(b)
areas.

(4) how much mahogany from Brazil by volume and value was imported into the
United Kingdom in 1993.

Mr. Needham : There are no official sources for information on the
importation of Brazilian mahogany into the United Kingdom. The information
has not been available since 1992 because the United Kingdom trade
classification no longer separately identifies mahogany from several other
non-coniferous woods.

Information on United Kingdom importing companies and Brazilian exporting
companies is not available.

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Mr. Dafis : To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action
he intends to take in order to ensure that illegally felled mahogany from
Brazil does not enter the United Kingdom.

Mr. Needham : The Government have no reliable or practical way of
identifying Brazilian mahogany which has come from an illegal source. Nor
is there any legitimate way in which the United Kingdom could adopt a
national ban on the import of such products. Primary responsibility for
ensuring that harvesting and export is carried out lawfully must rest with
the Brazilian Government.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Correspondence

Mrs. Angela Knight : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
if he will publish the latest figures showing the volume of correspondence
from hon. Members to Ministers and agency chief executives, the targets set
for reply and the percentage of replies sent within target.

Mr. David Davis : The 1993 figures are set out in the table. The
table also sets out figures showing ministerial correspondence in 1992
first published on 23 March 1993, Official Report, columns 550-54.

Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency

Mrs. Lait : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what key
targets have been set for the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency
for the current financial year.

Mr. David Davis : I have set the following targets for Recruitment
and Assessment Services for 1994-95 :

1. Financial break-even in accruals terms ;

2. A 2 per cent. increase in efficiency over 1993-94 performance ; 3.
evaluation ratings of 96 per cent. of RAS customers satisfied with the
service they have received, and 75 per cent. of these giving "more than
satisfied" or "highly satisfied" assessments.